Torch attachment



Dec. 14, 1965 J. n. sMrrH ETAL 3,223,139

ToRcH ATTACHMENT Filed Deo. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-sheet 1 BY una $444,,

Irfan/75 TORCH ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY mw @WUnited States Patent Ofi 3,223,139 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 ice 3,223,139TGRCH ATTACHMENT .lames Donald Smith and Richard Thomas Davies,Stroudsburg, Pa., assignors to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, NJ.

Filed Dec. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 242,517 Claims. (Cl. 158-33) This inventionrelates in general to a burner or torch device, and in particular to anew and useful portable burner or torch construction operating from acontainer of fuel under pressure and to an improved attachment forconnection to a container of pressurized fuel such as a container of thetype which is employed for gas fuel for cigarette lighters and similardevices.

The present invention has particular application in respect to anattachment for small sized containers accommodating fuels such as butaneunder pressure which includes a discharge at the top thereof which maycomprise a nozzle extension with a membrane which may be punctured bythe insertion of a needle or which may comprise a nozzle extension whichis depressable to open a valve for the discharge of gas from thecontainer. Prior to the present invention, devices have been known forincorporation with containers of gas which have valves thereon which maybe regulated and which may be manually operated for the control of thedischarge of gas therefrom. The present invention is an improvement overprior art devices particularly in respect to the provision of anattachment for incorporation with a container of the type mentionedabove which may be seated over the container in a manner to cause theelement which seals the container to open and release gas into a tubularextension formed on the attachment device.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided alight Weight and inexpensive tubular extension with an adapter basewhich is adapted to be pressed over a container of a type having anozzle for the discharge of gas from the top thereof as mentioned above.The attachment device includes in one embodiment a needle which isadapted to puncture a membrane within the nozzle in order to permit theescape of gas from the container. In this embodiment, the gas isdirected through a tubular extension through burner nozzle means at theupper end of the tubularextension having one or more ports for admittingair in a desired quantity and for introducing an even fiow of mixed airand gases for ignition at the discharge end of the burner element togenerate a high temperature flame.

In accordance with another embodiment of the device, the adapterincludes means for depressing a nozzle of the type wherein a valve isprovided in the nozzle which is actuated by pressing the nozzle memberdown. The arrangement in each case is such that the gas ejected from thecontainer is directed upwardly through a tubular extension and through anozzle burner of a type which provides for the mixing of air with thegas so that the air and gas may combine into a regulated hightemperature flame exiting from the burner nozzle.

One of the features of the invention is that the attachment includes atubular extension portion which is covered by an inexpensive insulatingmaterial such as cloth material so that the device may be easily handledwithout subjecting the operator to any uncomfortable high temperatures.The attachment is shaped so that it may be angled off upwardly from thecontainer and the container of gas may be held in the hand of theoperator for easy manipulation of the torch extension.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of an improvedfiltering element in the attachment which is arranged in the path of gasflow and preferably includes a cylindrical pellet of a sintered metal orother porous filter material which insures that no dirt will be directedupwardly through the burner device which may cause a disruption of thecontinuous flame conditions or provide for poor flame conditions at theburner nozzle discharge. The lter element is advantageously contained ina bushing member which is provided with a very small size oricepreferably around eight thousandths (0.008) of an inch in diameter whenthe device is employed with a pressure bottle containing a butane fuelof a type where the butane is maintaining approximately a pressure of 35lbs. per square inch gauge. With this provision of the invention, it isinsured that there will be no solid particles which will cause theclogging of the system and hence prevent the satisfactory operation ofthe burner device.

A further feature of the construction is the burner nozzle whichcomprises an elongated tubular member with a fiared base portion andcontains the bushing for the filter element with the orifice for thepassage of fuel upwardly through the burner nozzle. The orifice in thebushing element is located directly below a side port defined in theburner nozzle through which combustion air is admitted. The upper ordischarge end of the burner nozzle is fiared and the gas and air mixturemay exit both directly outwardly through a lcentral annular orifice andalso through a plurality of openings arranged around the central orificeat circumferentially spaced locations. The construction is such that theair and gas mixture will exit through the nozzle openings at highvelocity in a manner to provide a central high temperature blue conicalflame which is surrounded by the outer flame portions which tend to bedirected inwardly by the direction of the air and gas flow.

A further feature of the invention is the cap construction for the torchattachment which is adapted to overlie a cylindrical container of thewell known type which is employed for containing cigarette lighter gas.The attachment cap comprises a portion which extends laterally forfacilitating gripping with the fingers and particularly the thumb of thehand, both for insertion onto a container of gas and for removaltherefrom. The cap also includes one or more prong elements arranged toextend downwardly which are of a configuration to ensure that the capmay be clamped over the container and held thereon by resilient clampingaction. The interior of the cap connects directly to the tubularextension of the burner device and means are provided on the capinterior for either depressing the nozzle extension of the gas containeror for puncturing the membrane thereof for the purpose of effecting thegas discharge upwardly through the cap and into a tubular extension witha burner nozzle.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there isprovided a cap member which includes a plug projection formed on itslower face having a groove which carries a cornpressible ring. In apreferred arrangement the groove :of the plug accommodates a split metalring, and the groove diameter is slightly larger than the ring topermitthe ends o-f the ring to be pressed together. This construction permitsthe torch attachment to be snapped onto a gas container or bottle withthe ring being compresed when it passes the rim portion 22a and with thering engaging beneath the rim when the cap is seated in an operativeposition.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an impnovedburner or torch device.

A further object of the invention yis to provide a device for attachmentto a bottle of pressurized gas which includes means for effecting thedischarge of the gas from the container and the mixing thereof with airfor burning at the end thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which, whenattached to a container of gas such as gas employed in lighters, willcause the opening of the container for the discharge of gas through thetubular element to permit the burning thereof.

A further object of the invention is to puov-ide an attachment for acontainer such as a bottle of butane gas which is employed for supplyinggas-type cigarette lighters and which includes a circular rim portion'at the top with a central discharge nozzle extending upwandly, theattachment including a cap portion which is adapted to engage over therim portion and which has a tubular extension with means therein foractuating the nozzle to permit discharge of the gas through the tubularextension.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for acontainer fof gaseous fuel which includes a tubular element terminatingin a burner nozzle having means fior filtering gas and discharging itthrough an orifice of small dimension 'which is arranged below a portdened therein for the admission of combustion air, the tubular elementbeing arranged for delivering the combined gas and air mixture upwardlyfor discharge through one or more orifices in a flared nozzle member forburning purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for Ia gascontainer which includes a tubular member terminating in a nozzle havingdischarge openings for the exit of gas arranged -in a manner toy promotea conical blue-type flame with surrounding high temperature flameportions, and wherein 4the tubular member includes an insulating sleevearnanged therearound.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attaohment for a gascontainer, of a type used for storing gas employed in cigarettelighters. which includes a light weight tubular element with a capattachmentwhich may be simply mounted over the container in la mannerpermitting the container to be transformed .with the attachment into atorch member manipulatable by grasping the container in a persons hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a burner attachment anda burner assembly which is simple in design, rugged in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

The various features fof novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification. For a better understanding \of the invention, itsoperating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, referenceshould be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a burner or torch attachmentfor a gas container constructed in anccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of a torch assembly including the gascontainer constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed section of the burner nozzle;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the burner nozzle indicated in FIG. 4; A

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section similar to FIG. 1 of anotherembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of another embodiment of the capconstruction for a torch attachment in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied thereincomprises a burner assembly including an attachment or burner devicegenerally designated 10 employed in association with a container orbottle generally designated 12 of a type which is employed for thesupply of a gaseous fuel for gas-type cigarette lighters and the like.Containers or bottles for this purpose are of twlo general types, one inwhich an upright nozzle element 14 is mounted so as to be depressable toactuate a valve to release the gas element for discharge through an'opening in the nozzle element (not illustrated) and the other typewhich is illustrated wlhich comprises the cylin dri-cal nozzle extension14 with a top wall 16 having an opening 18 for the discharge of the gastherethrough but which is blocked by -a rupturable membrane 20. A washer21 is friction'ally wedged within the nozzle below membrane 20 andsupports the latter during its operation. The container cr bottle 12also includes an annular rim 22 which is reinforced by a metal coveringand wlhich forms a recessed annular portion 24 at the top of thecontainer 12. The container 12 includes an internal projecting ring orbead 22a which provides a lip extension for locking the attachmentdevice in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. The container12 also advantageously may include a bottom inlet valve member (notillustrated) which is provided for recharging the container.

In accordance with the invention, the attachment 10 comprises a capportion 26 having a lateral lip extension 28 provided for manipulationof the cap onto and oif the container 12 by the fingers of the hand. Abottom face 3G of the cap is provided with two sets of prong elements32, 32 and 34, 34 arranged in an arcuate manner in spaced relationship.The elements 32 and 34 are made of a material such as spring steel andare shaped so that they must be deiiected inwardly and resilientlyengaged around the bead or projection 22a of the rim 22 of the container12 when the cap portion 26 is seated thereon.

The cap 26 includes a centralV hollow tubular eXtension orv element 36which has a large diameter bore 38 which is iiared at its lower end topermit easy entrance of the npr-ight nozzle 14 of the container 12. Inthe embodiment illustrated, the container 12 includes a nozzle 14 whichhas the puncturable membrane 20 which, when punctured, will permitescape of the gas from the container 12. The tubular element 36Vincludes a larger diameter upper portion which forms a ledge or seat toreceive the container nozzle actuating member generally designated 40which, in the embodiment indicated in FIG. 1, is designed to functionwith the nozzle 14 having the puncturable membrane 20.

The container nozzle actuating member 40 includes the central discportion which is arranged above the shoulder formed between the upperbore and the lower bore 38 of the tubularelement 36 and held on eachside by gasket members 42 and 44. The container nozzle actuating means40` also includes, in the embodiment of FIG. l, the needle extension 40bwhich will penetrate the membrane 20 when the cap 26 is positioned overthe container with the elements 32, 32 and 34, 34 engaged around thebead 22a.

In the alternate embodiment illustrated in-FIG. 6 the container nozzleactuatingmeans comprises an inner ledge or wall 48 of a cylindrical capmember generally designated 49. The cap member 49 includes a widediameter portion 49b which accommodates a nozzle 14' of a type whichincludes a valve (not shown) which is actuated by downward movement ofthe nozzle. The nozzle 14' includes a small diameter opening 14a whichis aligned with a larger opening 48b of the nozzle actuating means. Whenthe cap 49 is seated on the container the nozzle member 14' is pusheddownwardly to actuate the valve and cause the discharge of gas throughthe opening 14'a of the nozzle and the opening 48b of the nozzleactuating meansI for flow upwardly through a tubular extension 51 whichis secured to the cap 49.

In all embodiments, the tubular element 36 is provided with a threadedupper end to receive a tubular extension or angled member generallydesignated 50. The angled member has a central bore 52 whichcommunicates with the bore of the needle 40b or with the opening 48b inaccordance with which embodiment of the nozzle actuating means isemployed. The upper end of the angled member 50 is externally threadedto receive the internal threads of a burner nozzle generally designated54.

The lower end of the burner nozzle assembly 54 is flared as indicated at56 in order to receive an orifice and filter member generally designated58 therein. The upper inner end of the tubular angled extension 50 isshaped to conform to the configuration of the orifice and filter member58.

As indicated best in FIG. 4, the orifice and filter member 58 comprisesa plug-type element having widened upper walls which are wedged in theburner nozzle at the junction between the flared portion 56 and acentral or intermediate portion 60. It has a central bore 62 for theflow of gas therethrough which is occupied by a lter element 64. Thefilter element 64 is advantageously made in the form of a cylindricalpellet of sintered metal such as stainless steel or other porous typefilter material. The filter element functions to insure that noimpurities will remain with the gas which may cause improper burning ormay even disrupt the continuous burning of the gas. A further safetyfeature is that the orifice and filter member 58 is provided with anorifice-size opening 66 which is set at a diameter or size which hasproven to efficiently permit the burning of the gas which isaccommodated in the container 12. For the operation with the usualcommercial container of this type, a diameter of 0.008 inch has beenfound satisfactory for employment with the container which contains gasat a pressure of around 35 lbs. per square inch.

The intermediate portion 60 of the nozzle burner is provided with aplurality of air inlet openings 68 arranged directly above the orifice66 at a location to cause induction of combustion air and mixing withthe gas as it flows upwardly through the intermediate section 60. Theopenings 68 are arranged at a location with respect to the orifice 66 toprovide for the injection of combustion air due to the decreasedpressure which will exist within the tubular portion 60 caused by theexpansion of the gas exiting through the nozzle 66.

The burner nozzle 58 also includes an upper flared portion 70terminating in an outer nozzle discharge 72. The flared portion 70permits outward flow of the air and a portion of the air and gas mixturefor direction upwardly through annular openings 74 defined in a plate 76which separates the upper flared portion 70 from the nozzle discharge72. The plate is formed with a central raised projection 78 having acentral bore 80 for the flow of gases therethrough.

When the attachment is placed on the container 12, gas willautomatically exit from the container through the attachment and bedischarged through the openings 74 and the opening 80. When the gas andair mixture is ignited, it will form a central conically-shaped blueflame 82 and the outer portion of the flame will be of red and yellowcolor and will be directed inwardly by the air flow as indicated at 84.Thus, an extremely high temperature flame will be generated with theheat being centralized at a location about one or two inches from theend of the opening 80.

A further feature of the construction is that at the angled portion ofthe angled tubular element 50 there is provided a ring 86 which may beof an insulating material such as asbestos, cloth and the like and whichis held on by means of encircling clamping rings 88 and 90 at each end,

The device is such that when the attachment 10 is secured to thecontainer 12, an operator may grasp the container in his hand, asindicated at FIG. 3, and aim the burner nozzle 58 in any manner hedesires. If the operator prefers, he may switch the angling of thenozzle 58 by rotating the cap 26. In some instances, it may be necessaryfor the operator to work extremely close, in

6 which case he may easily grasp the insulated portion 86 for theoperation of the upper portion of the device.

In the embodiment indicated in FIG. 7 a cap assembly generallydesignated 92 is provided which includes a tubular extension 94 similarto that provided in the other embodiments. In this embodiment there isprovided a central disc portion 96 and a depending plug portion 98. Theplug portion has an annular groove 100 which carries a metal ring 102which is compressible. When the cap assembly 92 is positioned on thecontainer, the disc portion overlies the container rim and the plugportion is inserted within the rim. The metal band 102 extends outwardlysufliciently so that it is snapped around the bead 22a to lock theassembly in position.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail, it will be understood that the invention may beembodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a cylindrical container having a top face with anannular rim with a recessed top face portion, said rim defining aprojection extending into said recessed top face portion, a nozzleactuatable to release fluid from said container and centered in saidface portion including an upright member for the discharge of gas fromthe container, an attachment comprising a cap having a flat disc portionadapted to close the end of said container over said rim and a pluralityof inwardly extending resilient members adapted to engage around theprojecting portion of the rim, a tubular portion extending upwardly fromsaid flat `disc portion and surrounding the nozzle of the container,means in said tubular portion for engaging the nozzle to actuate thelatter for the discharge of gas from the container, a tubular angledextension connected into said tubular portion and having a hollow borealigned with the bore of the tubular portion for receiving gases fromthe container and, a burner member connected to the outer end of saidtubular extension.

2. A torch attachment readily attachable and detachable from a fuelsupply container of combustible fluid, said container having an endclosure including an annular rim and a central face portion recessedwithin the rim, which rim also has a portion extending inwardly oversaid face portion, and a fluid outlet means operable to release fluidfrom the container, the outlet means being positioned within the annularrim and in communication with the interior of the container, the torchattachment comprising a cap portion having a surface adapted to overlieand engage the axially outermost portion of a container rim, a pluralityof resilient members fixed to said cap portion and extending therefromand adapted to releasably engage the inwardly extending portion of therim of a container to hold said cap portion in place thereon, a fluidreceiving bore in said cap portion and adapted to receive therein thefluid outlet means of a container, outlet operating means on said capportion for actuating the outlet means of a container upon the torchattachment being attached thereto by said resilient members, a tubularangled extension fixed at one end to said cap portion having a boretherethrough in communication with said fluid receiving bore, and aburner member fixed to the other end of said angled extension.

3. A torch attachment readily attachable and detachable from a fuelsupply container of combustible fluid, said container having an endclosure including an annular rim and a central face portion recessedwithin the rim, which rim also has a portion extending inwardly oversaid face portion, and a fluid outlet means operable to release fluidfrom the container, the outlet means being positioned within the annularrim and in communication with the interior of the container, the torchattachment comprising a cap portion having a surface adapted to overlieand engage the axially outermost portion of a container rim, a pluralityof resilient members fixed to said cap portion and extending therefromand adapted to releasably engage the inwardly extending portion of therim of a container to hold said cap portion in place thereon, a fluidreceiving portion mounted on said cap portion and having an internalbore adapted to receive therein the uid outlet means of a container,means in said uid receiving means for actuating the outlet means of acontainer upon the torch attachment being attached thereto by saidresilient members, a tubular angled exten- Sion fixed at one end to saidfluid receiving means and having a bore therethrough in communicationwith the 1 bore of said uid receiving means, and a burner member xed tothe other end of said angled extension.

4. A torch attachment according to claim 3 and in which said cap portionfurther comprises a lateral extension which is adapted to extendoutwardly beyond the rim of a container, whereby the torch operator may,when said attachment is mounted on a container to Which it is adapted,change the orientation of the burner nozzle about the axis of acontainer upon which the attachment is adapted to `be mounted by pushingon said lateral extension to Slidably rotate said cap portion andresilient members about the annular rim of a container,

5. A torch attachment according to claim 3 in which the fluid outletmeans of a container is an upstanding i nozzle centrally positioned onthe face portion, and in which the iluid receiving means is a tubularextension of said cap portion having a bore adapted to receive theReferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 433,440 8/1890Bevington 158-21 547,863 10/1895 Radford 158-21 2,455,221 11/1948 Brody158-35 2,518,544 8/1950 Anthes 158-116 2,683,484 7/1954 Fallingant158-33 X 2,744,809 5/ 1956 Fallingant 158-33 X 2,804,763 9/1957 Russellet al 67-7.1 2,804,994 9/1957 Nebinger 158-33 X 2,858,729 11/1958 Keyes158-116 X 2,860,820 11/1958 Fallingant 158-33 X 2,892,251 6/1959 Felt67-7.1 2,932,349 4/1960 Ferguson 158-116 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, PrimaryExaminer.

JOHN J. CAMBY, CHARLES SUKALO, Examz'neias`

1. IN COMBINATION, A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER HAVING A TOP FACE WITH ANANNULAR RIM WITH A RECESSED TOP FACE PORTION, SAID RIM DEFINING APROJECTION EXTENDING INTO SAID RECESSED TOP FACE PORTION, A NOZZLEACTUATABLE TO RELEASE FLUID FROM SAID CONTAINER AND CENTERED IN SAIDFACE PORTION INCLUDING AN UPRIGHT MEMBER FOR THE DISCHARGE OF GAS FROMTHE CONTAINER, AN ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A CAP HAVING A FLAT DISC PORTIONADAPTED TO CLOSE THE END OF SAID CONTAINER OVER SAID RIM AND A PLURALITYOF INWARDLY EXTENDING RESILIENT MEMBERS ADAPTED FOR ENGAGE AROUND THEPROJECTING PORTION OF THE RIM, A TUBULAR PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROMSAID FLAT DISC PORTION AND SURROUNDING THE NOZZLE OF THE